Landslide in Pune triggers fear, casualties expected

Pune, July 31: Casualties were feared as several people were suspected to have been trapped inside houses on a hillside following a landslide in Maharashtra’s Pune districttoday, police said. People living in about 35 houses have come under the debris of a hillock that caved in at village Malin in Ambegaon taluka of the district when they were asleep, Pune (rural) police said.

Rescue operations are on and a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been rushed from the neighbouring Talegaon camp to the village, about 120 km. According to District Collector Saurav Rao, the administration has mobilised rescue machinery to pull out those trapped.

“Exact number of causalities is not known as we are moving slowly to ensure that those trapped are removed safely. About 30 ambulances have been rushed from adjoining areas to extend medical help to the victims,” he said, adding earth moving equipment from government and private parties were being pressed into service. Communication difficulties and rains were affecting the operations, he said.